The Dallas Mavericks are continuing their dominant run during the ongoing playoff series. After recently defeating the Clippers by a 30-point margin, the franchise currently leads their rivals by 3-2. While Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been instrumental in getting the team up to this point, another individual deserves credit: 20-year-old rookie Dereck Lively II. And if the young star ever felt he didn’t get enough credit for his contribution, Irving just changed that.

In the aftermath of the recent Mavericks-Clippers clash, Kyrie Irving engaged in a Q & A session with several media members. During the same, the player was asked about Lively II and how there was a significant improvement in his basketball “IQ” after transitioning from his college career with Duke to the NBA. This led the 32-year-old shooting guard to joke and say, “Something about those Duke guys, man.” This remark triggered laughter in the room since Irving himself is a proud Duke alumni and a former Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team member. On a more serious note, however, the veteran player praised the rookie for quickly adapting himself to the cultural shift of the Mavericks.

“This season is bigger than us; it’s just bigger than winning ball games and winning a championship,” Irving noted, continuing, “He’s playing with that type of passion; he’s doing the little things for us as big, and he’s listening. He’s Sky High ahead of a lot of the other rookies that I know”. Comparing him with some of the other unnamed young players in the NBA, Irving highlighted how Derek Lively II is proving to be the exception. Notably, he displayed a better sense of “spacing” and putting more effort into the game rather than only focusing on scoring.

Dereck Lively concluded his regular season run with an average score of 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. His average score remained constant during the playoffs. Although the pain of losing his mother may still be fresh in his mind, Lively II has not let his grief affect his on-court performance. Echoing the cultural shift mentioned by Irving, he has been focusing on his individual stats. Moreover, Lively has also helped out the lead-scoring duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. 

Derek Lively vs Kyrie Irving: A comparison of stats

When paired up, Doncic and Lively II hold a defensive rating of 91.8. While his points average may not show it, the rookie’s contribution plays a big role in the Mavericks’ road to winning their first championship ring in 13 years. The NBA has welcomed various Duke College basketball team players into their folds. What they did recently for Derek Lively II, they did for Kyrie Irving when the latter declared for the 2011 draft.

With both Mavericks stars originating from the same college basketball team, let’s take a look at how each of their season at Duke went. Dereck Lively II played 34 games with the Blue Devils Men’s Basketball team. He established an average score of 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists during that time. Kyrie Irving, on the other hand, only played 11. The latter missed 26 games after being sidelined due to a toe injury. 

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However, he was better on the scoring front, as he averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists during his brief tenure. The duo each had their own advantage when it came to their shooting abilities. With 77-177 (65.8%) field goals, Lively II had a higher success rate than Irving’s 55-104 (52.9%). The latter stood in a superior position with his 18-39 (46.2%) three-pointers and 64-71 (90.1%) free throws. Despite Irving’s high stats, Lively II was the one named to the ACC All-Freshman and Defensive teams. 

The two Duke Graduates have become household names amongst Dallas fans. The rookie, however, still has a long way to go before he can match the level of his senior. And how long that will take remains yet to be seen.